ATF National Response Team Provides Investigative Assistance on Esparto Explosion
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Response Team (NRT) arrived at 26454 County Road 23, Esparto, California on Friday, July 4th, to provide their investigative assistance to CALFIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) in the determination of the origin and cause of the explosion that occurred at the location the evening of July 1.
Esparto, Calif. – Members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Response Team (NRT) arrived at 26454 County Road 23, Esparto, California on Friday, July 4, to provide their investigative assistance to CALFIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) in the determination of the origin and cause of the explosion that occurred at the location the evening of July 1.
“We are actively working with federal and local investigators to determine exactly how this explosion occurred,” said Chief Daniel Berlant, California State Fire Marshal. “While it’s too early to speculate what went wrong, we will hold anyone accountable if we find that they violated our State’s stringent fireworks laws and regulations.”
A member of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Response Team (NRT) looks at the overall area of the explosion in Esparto, California that happened on July 1.
“ATF’s NRT and CALFIRE OSFM are in the preliminary stages of this investigation,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Buenaventura, ATF, San Francisco Field Division. “Our focus is to provide our investigative assistance on the explosive scene analysis to CALFIRE OSFM. ATF approaches these scenes without any preconceptions about what may have happened, and we allow the evidence to guide us to a conclusion. We will continue our investigation until we come to a determination.”
ATF National Response Team member searches for evidence.
The NRT offers their expertise to federal, state, and local investigators with large-scale and complex fire and explosive incidents. The NRT is comprised of veteran special agents to include certified fire investigators, certified explosives specialists, fire protection engineers, chemists, forensic mappers, accelerant detection canine teams, and other highly specialized and experienced investigators. More information regarding the NRT can be found at https://www.atf.gov/explosives/national-response-team.
ATF developed the NRT in 1978. This is the 13th NRT activation of fiscal year 2025, which began Oct. 1, 2024. This is the 933rd deployment since the inception of the NRT in 1978.
Anyone with any information about this explosion should contact ATF and CALFIRE OSFM at 1-(888)-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477) or by visiting www.reportit.com or through the mobile “reportit” app, available both on Google Play and the Apple App Store. All calls and tips can remain confidential.
